Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused China of ignoring the recruitment of its citizens to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, revealing that at least 155 Chinese nationals have been involved in the conflict. Zelenskyy expressed his belief that the US was “very surprised” by the discovery, noting that Kyiv had access to passport details of the Chinese fighters. While he did not think Beijing directly ordered their involvement, Zelenskyy suggested Russia is using social media platforms, including TikTok, to enlist Chinese nationals.
In response, China dismissed the claims as “groundless,” asserting that it consistently advises its citizens to avoid conflict zones. Russia has yet to comment on the involvement of Chinese fighters.
Zelenskyy also highlighted Ukraine’s urgent need for at least 10 Patriot missile defense systems to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks. He emphasized that Ukraine has been in discussions with both the US and European leaders to secure this aid.
Meanwhile, Russian drones targeted Kyiv on Thursday morning, resulting in one person trapped under rubble and a fire caused by a downed drone.
In the US, a bipartisan group of lawmakers expressed concern over reports that the Trump administration may reduce the number of American troops stationed in Europe. The current US military presence in Europe is about 100,000, a significant increase since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Lastly, a Russian family who fled to the US to escape persecution for protesting against the war in Ukraine is now facing difficulties in the immigration process, caught in the complex web of the US asylum system.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/10/ukraine-war-briefing-zelenskyy-says-us-very-surprised-after-chinese-fighters-captured-on-frontline